Legal Help Desk

Nearly one in six transgender Americans has been to prison—and
nearly half of all black transgender people.
Once behind bars,
discriminatory policies and the constant threat of sexual assault can
make prison a living hell for this already mistreated group.

For lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) seniors, finding, keeping, and advancing in good jobs can be a challenge. LGBT seniors may confront both age-related bias and anti-LGBT bias in the workplace, which can leave them even more vulnerable than those of their counterparts who share, and therefore face discrimination based on, only one of those characteristics. Legal protections against workplace discrimination based on age, sexual orientation, and gender identity have expanded dramatically in many places across the United States, and LGBT seniors can access these legal tools to protect their rights in the workplace.

Over the last decade, hospitals throughout the United States have recognized that some groups of people face significant barriers to health care because of historic bias and discrimination against them. Many efforts have been launched to identify these groups, learn more about the challenges they face in health care, and welcome them into the nation’s hospitals. To reach out to these long overlooked groups, hospitals have examined their policies and practices to ensure that discrimination is clearly prohibited, recommendations for equitable and inclusive care are being followed, and staff are trained to provide knowledgeable, sensitive care.

On October 21, 2013, Lambda Legal’s case to bring marriage equality to New Jersey concluded in a final, resounding
victory: After the New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously refused to postpone our trial court win in Garden State Equality
v. Dow that ordered marriage without discrimination based on sexual orientation, the government abandoned its appeal!
Marriages began across the state at 12:01 a.m., and with so many thousands of couples newly able to wed, Lambda
Legal has created and updated our answers to frequently asked questions about the effect of our win and what it means
for people in New Jersey.

The federal 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law requires nursing homes to “protect and promote the rights of each resident” emphasizing individual dignity and self-determination in the provision of long-term care. Every nursing home accepting Medicare and/or Medicaid must meet federal requirements, including those regarding residents’ rights.

There's no doubt we are still feeling the positive reverberations of June 26th. Since the Supreme Court’s momentous ruling striking down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), same-sex couples across the country are exploring and taking advantage of exciting new options, benefits and responsibilities.

Lambda Legal is working to repeal or reform HIV criminalization laws throughout the United States. An HIV criminalization law is one that specifically targets and punishes people living with HIV for engaging in conduct that would otherwise be legal if not for the person’s HIV status. Most of these laws do not require transmission of HIV and are based on the mere failure to announce one’s medical condition to a potential partner prior to engaging in sexual contact. Below we describe 15 ways these laws harm public health, result in unjust prosecutions, and serve primarily to stigmatize and oppress people living with HIV.

What kind of long-range vision do you have for your future and that of your loved ones? Have you taken the necessary
legal and financial planning measures to protect that vision? Answer the following life planning questions
to find out how prepared you really are—or what life planning issues you need to start thinking about now.